Senators Close in on Opening Night Roster

Even in the best of years, preseason hockey can be a bit of a struggle.

The Annual Rookie Tournament is always exciting because it’s that first real sign that a new season is upon us. And then the first couple exhibition games are okay because we get our first look at parts of the actual team.

But the preseason does have a way of dragging on a little bit. Especially when you lose every damn game. Add in a random three day break right in the middle of the proceedings and it’s a little bit like pulling teeth.

Two more to go, folks. Thursday night the Senators are in Chicago to take on the Blackhawks and then on Saturday they wrap things up against the Montreal Canadiens.Nine days until the games start for real.

Still a couple tough decisions to make before then.

With Training Camp and preseason winding down, Guy Boucher is getting closer to that final 22-man roster. Yesterday, both Paul Carey and Jim O’Brien were reassigned to Belleville of the American Hockey League.

That leaves 28 players in Camp.

At Monday’s practice, the forward lines started like this although according to people in attendance, they were juggled regularly throughout the skate.

Dzingel-Duchene-Boedker
Tkachuk-Smith-Stone
Formenton-Tierney-Ryan
Paarjarvi-White-Pyatt
Chlapik-McCormick

So with Carey and O’Brien on their way down, there are 14 forwards left fighting for spots. Probably one more decision for Boucher to make up front with Formenton, Tkachuk, White, Chlapik and McCormick all battling it out for a couple spot.

Max McCormick’s one-way deal probably puts him in a pretty good position despite the fact that he’s been passed by the other four guys during Training Camp.  Brady Tkachuk seems like a lock. Alex Formenton likely starts the year in Ottawa. That leaves Chlapik, White and McCormick battling it out.

The blueline looked like this although again, pairings were changed regularly.

Chabot-Ceci
Lajoie-DeMelo
Borowiecki-Wideman
Wolanin-Harpur/Jaros

Out of this group, it sounds like seven will start on the NHL roster.

That likely means that two of Max Lajoie, Christian Wolanin, Christian Jaros and Ben Harpur will start on the NHL roster. Similar situation on defence where Ben Harpur’s one-way contract likely gives him the inside track at a roster spot despite the other options looking better in Training Camp.

With a little over a week left in Camp, the Ottawa Senators are closing in on a roster for opening night.

Now, they just have to figure out how to win a game.